Every parliamentary written question tabled by Lee Anderson this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1,121–1,140 of 1,340 · this parliament
What steps her Department is taking to help end crossings by small boat across the English Channel.
I refer the Honourable Member to the statement made by the Home Secretary on 10 February 2025, when moving the Border, Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill for its second reading.
What steps he is taking to help ensure that pricing for energy bills is competitive.
Energy prices for households on default tariffs are determined by Ofgem’s price cap, which is set at a level that protects such consumers from paying inefficient prices, while allowing for competition between suppliers. Prices for other tariffs, including fixed tariffs and non-domestic tariffs, are set by suppliers, who compete for customers on the basis of price and quality of service.
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support food production in the UK to increase food security.
As we set out in our Plan for Change, we are focused on supporting our farmers, supporting rural economic growth and boosting Britain’s food security. This includes: o Seasonal workers: At the NFU conference, the Government announced extending the Seasonal Worker visa route for five more years giving farms a pipeline of workers and certainty to grow their businesses. Annual quota reviews will ensure we strike the right balance – supporting farms while gradually transitioning away from seasonal migrant labour. reducing visa numbers as we develop alternative solutions.o Backing British produce: British farmers handed a major boost under new requirements for government catering contracts to favour high-quality, products that local farms and producers are well placed to serve. The move marks a major leap in achieving the government’s ambition, for at least 50% of food supplied into the £5 billion public sector catering contracts to be from British producers or those certified to higher environmental standards where this is consistent with our domestic and international legal obligations.o Using planning reforms to support food production: Ensuring our reforms make it quicker for farmers to build the buildings, barns and other infrastructure they need on their farms to boost food production.o Diversifying income streams: Helping farmers make additional money from selling surplus energy from solar panels and wind turbines by accelerating connections to the grid and support them during difficult harvests and supply shocks.o A fairer supply chain: The Government is committed to making the supply chain fairer, with new regulations for the pig sector coming in by the end of March 2025 to make sure contracts clearly set out expectations and only allow changes if they have been agreed by all parties. We are engaging with industry on similar proposals for eggs and fresh produce.o £110 million investment in technology: The Farming Innovation Programme which supports research and development of agri-technology for farmers, for example the chemical free cleaning for integrated milking equipment, which lowers energy costs and chemical use. The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund provides grants of up to £25,000 to buy equipment. The list of available items will be published in due course.o Protecting farmers in trade deals: The government will uphold and protect our high environmental and animal welfare standards in future trade deals.o Strengthening Britain’s biosecurity: Setting up a new National Biosecurity Centre to transform the Animal and Plant Health Agency animal health facility at Weybridge, investing £200 million to improve our resilience against animal disease to protect farmers and food producers.o Investing £5 billion into farming over the next two years – the largest ever directed at sustainable food production and in our country’s history.
Communities and Local Government, how much her Department has been spent on projects that have not been launched in each of the last five years.
This information requested is not held centrally.
What assessment she made of the potential merits of holding a public inquiry into the murder of Sir David Amess.
The Home Office is committed to learning all the lessons from the appalling attack on Sir David Amess. We have therefore published both the Prevent Learning Review on the case in the interests of maximum transparency, and tasked Lord Anderson, the interim Prevent Commissioner, with conducting a rapid review of the case.Lord Anderson will identify whether changes are required arising from the specific handling of that case; examine improvements made to the Prevent programme since the attack and determine whether they have sufficiently strengthened the system; and identify any remaining gaps or shortcomings in the wider programme that require further improvement. This review will be published and swift action will be taken to implement the findings.The Government does not believe that a public inquiry would unearth any information that has not already been considered by the Courts, by the Prevent Learning Review, and by the ongoing Anderson review. However, the Home Secretary has confirmed that we will scrutinise all the previous reviews that have taken place to see if there are any questions that still need to be answered or issues that still need to be addressed, and we will act as necessary if any such gaps are identified as a result of that process.
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support farmers.
The Government’s commitment to our farmers remains steadfast. It’s why we have committed £5 billion to the farming budget over two years – more money than ever for sustainable food production. This is funding over 37,000 live Sustainable Farming Incentive agreements, increased payments under Higher Level Stewardship (HLS), and Round 1 and 2 Landscape Recovery projects. It will also fund new Higher Tier agreements and Capital Grants, both of which open or re-open to applications later this year. We have allocated £60 million to the Farming Recovery Fund for farmers affected by extreme weather, and £208 million to protect against disease threats. We have also recently announced further policies including extending the Seasonal Worker visa route for five more years, backing British produce in government catering contracts, and investing £110 million in agri-technology. A new commissioner for the tenant farming sector will be appointed, and a veterinary agreement with the EU will be sought to ease export red tape. The government will also protect farmers from low welfare trade deals and lower energy bills by connecting renewable energy to the National Grid. Other measures include a land-use framework for food security and nature recovery, a Cross-Government Rural Crime Strategy, and a British Infrastructure Council to drive private investment in rural areas. The Government is also committed to making the supply chain fairer, with upcoming reviews on the pig, egg, poultry, and fresh produce sectors.
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure value for money for water bills.
It is Ofwat's responsibility to independently scrutinise water company business plans and ensure the prices water companies charge their customers are fair and proportionate, alongside ensuring companies are only funded for new projects and customers don’t pay twice for projects companies have already been funded for. During its first week in office, the government announced that funding for vital infrastructure investment is ringfenced and can only be spent on upgrades benefiting customers and the environment. Ofwat will also ensure that when money for investment is not spent, companies refund customers, with money never allowed to be diverted for bonuses, dividends or salary increases.
What steps she is taking to help support children with SEND whose parents cannot afford to pay for a private education following the application of VAT to private school fees.
This government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity and ensuring every child has access to high quality education. The government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life. We are committed to improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools, as well as ensuring special schools cater for those with the most complex needs.Local authorities fund pupils’ places in private schools where their needs can only be met in a private school. For example, in England, where attendance at that private school is required by a child’s education, health and care (EHC) plan, local authorities will be able to reclaim the VAT on the fees from HMRC.The decision to move a child from a private to a state-funded school, or vice versa, is a matter for parents. The majority of children with special educational needs (SEN), including most with EHC plans, are already educated in mainstream state-funded schools where their needs are met. All children of compulsory age are entitled to a state-funded school place that is free for parents. Schools are required to identify and address the SEN of the pupils they support and to use their best endeavours to make sure that a child or young person with SEN gets the support they require.The government works to support local authorities to ensure that every local area has sufficient places for children of compulsory school age who need them and works to provide appropriate support where pupils with SEN require places at state-funded schools.
Whether he plans to re-shore manufacturing.
Reshoring, alongside progressive key trade agreements, will be important of our national resilience, and we are determined to make the UK a prime location for globally competitive manufacturing.The Industrial Strategy this spring will set out an ambitious long-term vision for UK manufacturing competitiveness and will detail how we intend to boost R&D, skills, and fast track adoption of new manufacturing technologies here in the UK.
For what reason she agreed to the recent increase in train fares.
The recent 4.6 per cent increase to the cap on regulated rail fares, announced in last autumn's budget, supports the Government's long-term plan to achieve financial sustainability of the railway and is the lowest absolute increase in three years. Any long-term changes or concessions made to rail fares policy require balancing against the potential impacts on passengers, taxpayers and the railway.
If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending free bus travel to all people over 60 years old in England, outside of London.
The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of state pension age, currently sixty-six. The ENCTS costs around £700 million annually and any changes to the statutory obligations, such as lowering the age of eligibility, would therefore need to be carefully considered for its impact on the scheme’s financial sustainability. Local authorities in England have the power to offer concessions in addition to their statutory obligations such as lowering the age of eligibility. Additional local concessions are provided and funded by local authorities from local resources. The government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country. East Midlands Combined County Authority has been allocated £40.5 million of this funding. Funding allocated to local authorities to improve services for passengers can be used in whichever way they wish. This could include extending the discretionary concessions available in the local area.
If she will overrule changes to sentencing guidance which will place greater emphasis on pre-sentence reports.
The Sentencing Council has issued new guidance which the last Government was consulted on between November 2023 and February 2024, and then publicly welcomed.The Lord Chancellor has been clear that these guidelines do not represent this government’s views, and she asked the Council to reconsider them.The Lord Chancellor and the Chairman of the Sentencing Council have since had a constructive discussion. It was agreed that the Lord Chancellor will set out her position more fully in writing, which the Sentencing Council will then consider before the guideline is due to come into effect
What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the increase of international medical graduates coming to the UK for work on the employment rate of British medical graduates.
There is no obligation on employers to prioritise British nationals before foreign nationals for medical posts in the National Health Service. Internationally educated staff remain an important part of the workforce, and our Code of Practice for International Recruitment ensures stringent ethical standards when recruiting health and social care staff from overseas. However, the Government is also committed to growing homegrown talent and giving opportunities to more people across the country to join the NHS.In summer 2025, we will publish a refreshed Long Term Workforce Plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade and treat patients on time again.
What steps his Department is taking to prioritise British medical graduates for medical posts in the NHS.
There is no obligation on employers to prioritise British nationals before foreign nationals for medical posts in the National Health Service. Internationally educated staff remain an important part of the workforce, and our Code of Practice for International Recruitment ensures stringent ethical standards when recruiting health and social care staff from overseas. However, the Government is also committed to growing homegrown talent and giving opportunities to more people across the country to join the NHS.In summer 2025, we will publish a refreshed Long Term Workforce Plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade and treat patients on time again.
Whether her Department has made an estimate of the potential cost to the public purse for legal costs relating to compulsory purchase orders made for the HS2 project.
All property acquisitions under compulsory purchase orders entail legal costs, for example in relation to conveyancing. The Department has not made an estimate of the potential cost to the public purse for legal costs associated with compulsory purchase orders for the HS2 project, as these costs vary depending on the size and complexity of each transaction and some cases have not yet been completed.
Whether Amanda Pritchard will receive an exit payment.
Amanda Pritchard led the National Health Service through the biggest health emergency for our country in modern history. Following her decision to step down as Chief Executive, any exit payment will be in line with contractual entitlements and subject to the necessary approvals.
Whether she has made an assessment of the potential cost to the public purse of abolishing the (a) High Income Child Benefit Charge and (b) reductions in the level of Personal Allowance for people earning over (i) £100,00 and (ii) £125,000.
The Government is committed to managing the public finances responsibly. The High Income Child Benefit Charge ensures that the Government supports the majority of families while keeping welfare expenditure sustainable.Data showing tax revenue raised by the High Income Child Benefit Charge in each financial year is published within Table 1 of HMRC’s Child Benefit statistics.For individuals with income above £100,000, the Personal Allowance is withdrawn gradually, with £1 of allowance lost for every £2 of income above the income limit of £100,000. This reduction continues until the Personal Allowance is completely withdrawn for those with incomes above £125,140.The total income tax liability for those earning above £100,000 is published online in Table 2.5 of HMRC’s income tax liabilities statistics. For the 2024-25 tax year, this is estimated at £145 billion, almost half of the estimated income tax revenue for this year.As with all aspects of the tax system, the Government keeps the withdrawal of the Personal Allowance and the High Income Child Benefit Charge under review and any decisions on future changes will be taken by the Chancellor in the context of the wider public finances.
Whether she has received a request from Stonewall for additional government funding.
The Cabinet Office, including the Office for Equality and Opportunity, has received no requests for additional government funding from Stonewall.
Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to ensure that council staff are unable to work from abroad.
Local authorities are independent employers responsible for the management of their own workforces, including where staff can work from. It is not the responsibility of central government to micromanage this. Councils are, however, expected to manage their workforces to best meet the needs of their residents. Staff working arrangements and value for money should be considered as part of this.
If she will make it her policy not to (a) lower inheritance tax thresholds and (b) increase inheritance tax rates in the Spring Statement 2025.
The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has been commissioned for an Economic and Fiscal Forecast, which will be published on 26 March 2025. This is in line with the Budget Responsibility and National Audit Act 2011 which requires the OBR to produce two forecasts each financial year. This will be accompanied by a statement to Parliament from the Chancellor of the Exchequer.The Government set out its plans for inheritance tax at Autumn Budget 2024, including fixing the nil-rate band and residence nil-rate band at their current levels for a further two years in 2028-29 and 2029-30.The Government remains committed to one major fiscal event a year to give families and businesses stability and certainty on upcoming tax and spending changes and, in turn, to support the Government’s growth mission.